Picente Urges Area Veterans, Agencies To Attend CNY Veteran’s Expo at SUNYIT on Oct. 14^th
 

            Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. today urged local veterans and community agencies that work with veterans to support and attend the second annual CNY Veteran's Expo at SUNY-IT in Marcy on October 14th. The day-long event begins at 8 a.m. in Kunsela Hall.  This free event is sponsored by the American Red Cross, Mohawk Valley Chapter; Mohawk Valley Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW); the Oneida County Department of Mental Health, and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at SUNYIT.

            “I want to help veterans making the transition back to our community and aid them in dealing with the barriers they face due to the stress and hardships of their service to our country,” Picente said. “ Oneida County is a strong supporter of services to veterans through our Department of Mental Health, Office of Workforce Development, and Veterans Services Agency. This event is an outstanding opportunity for veterans and their families – as well as families for soon-to-return service members – to learn about the many services that already exist. It is also a time for our service providers to hear from some top-notch experts about the challenge facing today’s veterans so that we as a community can provide the response to our veterans’ needs that they deserve.”

           Picente said the event is open to veterans and agencies throughout the region. “An event of this magnitude is a tremendous labor of love for the agencies and partners putting it together. On behalf of all our veterans, I want to thank them for their outstanding work and I am deeply moved at the commitment this area has to helping our service members and their families.”

Picente said the event has two major components:

1.      An all-day conference with top-notch speakers and breakout sessions;

2.     A provider "Fair" for vets and their family members to meet with local providers and learn about services and resources available to them in our community.

            “This is a great opportunity to be of service to our veterans,” Picente said. “I hope that all veterans and their families will attend to hear what our region can do to help them, and that our service providers will join the experts chosen for this event so that they can come away with the latest information to help our returning veterans.”

Ward Halverson, chair of the CNY 2008 Veterans Expo Committee, said the event’s theme is “Connecting those who need with those who help.”

            “We live in a region that is very willing to reach out to veterans and deal with their needs, and we want to encourage all of our veterans to access the services we have available for them,” he added, “We believe that combining a provider fair with a series of workshops for providers will result in a day-long focus on our veterans so that we can all come away better able to serve those who have served.”

            Organizations interested in having a display booth or table space in the Kunsela Hall Lobby – as well as local agencies who want to reserve space for the day’s workshops -- are asked to call the SBDC at (315) 792-7547 to register and request table space. There is no charge to attend or participate and lunch is free to those who pre-register by Oct 6.

The day’s workshops include:

AM Session:

·        The experience of war and why it is so hard to return home: Steve Banko- Vietnam Vet, Field Office Director, HUD Buffalo Regional Office. Steven T. Banko III was awarded the Silver Star, four Bronze Stars, the Air Medal and four Purple Hearts for his service under fire. 

·        Serving our returning veterans: The role of community providers: Col. Jim McDonough, Director, NYS Division of Veteran’s Affairs.

Breakout sessions: AM 10:30-12:00 noon (and repeated in the afternoon 3:00-4:15)

·        The role of families and what families can do to facilitate successful reentry and reintegration: for service providers and families: Charles Kennedy, Ph.D., Lead Psychologist and Program Director, PTSD Program, Stratton VA Center in Albany

• Working with vets in crisis- for law enforcement, crisis workers, emergency medical personnel and anyone else who is likely to encounter a vet in crisis: Pat Chase, Team Leader, Syracuse Vet Center Readjustment Counseling Services.
  
• Supporting veterans with their transition to the workforce by developing a new business or working as an employee: Mark Hediger, Herkimer/Oneida/Madison Counties Workforce Investment Board-Homeless Veterans Reemployment Program;  Rachael Stanton, US Small Business Administration; David Mallen, MV Small Business Development Center @ SUNYIT

PM Session

·        What is PTSD?  Why do so many veterans experience this condition?  What can you as a community provider do to help or refer someone with PTSD? Charles Kennedy, Ph.D, Lead Psychologist and Program Director, PTSD Program, Stratton VA Center in Albany .

·        What are TBI and “mild” TBI?  Why do so many veterans experience these conditions?  What can you as a community provider do to help or refer someone with TBI or mTBI? Dr. Allan Landes, Syracuse VA TBI, mTBI and poly-trauma expert.

           Further details on the events and speakers can be obtained from Ward Halverson, chair of the CNY 2008 Veterans Expo Committee, at 868-1000.